CTA Red/Purple Line Modernization
The Chicago Transit Authority is having two meetings in early February to inform the public about the North Red and Purple Modernization project. To see more information about the meetings, click here.
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Free Holiday Light Recycling
Public Works Yards - 1390 Willow Rd.
Drop off M-F between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm
Winnetka (in partnership with Elgin Recycling) is pleased to offer its Holiday Lights Recycling Program. All holiday string-type lights will be accepted at the drop-off location at Public Works, 1390 Willow Rd. during regular business hours.
Accepted for recycling: Mini-lights (or Italian lights), C7 lights, C9 lights, rope lights, LED lights, extension cords, etc. All colors and lengths will be accepted.
The Village cannot accept garland, live greens, wreaths, or other non-recyclables. This program is free to anyone and is drop-off only.
Contact the Public Works Department at 716-3568 with any questions.
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Winnetka's Sales Tax Rate is currently 8.25%
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2011 Preservation Awards
The Preservation Awards program seeks to honor those construction projects in the village that have helped preserve the history and character of the village. To see last year’s winners, click here.
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Winnetka Police Department Does NOT Solicit Donations
Some residents report receiving calls for donations from the Winnetka Police Department. These calls come from the Union that represents non-supervisory Police Officers. Winnetka Police personnel are prohibited from such solicitation, never make such calls - and the Police Department does not benefit from these donations. For more detailed information, click here and then scroll down the page.
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A Message from President Tucker
About an Affordable Housing
Advisory Referendum
Village President Jessica Tucker has issued a statement in response to press inquiries about requests for an affordable housing referendum. To see the statement, click here.
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Consumer Alert: Costs are not Greater to
Remove Trees
Infested with
Emerald Ash Borer
Beware of tree care companies that charge a higher fee to cut down and remove a tree because it is infested with Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). For more information on tree care scams, click here.
Symptoms of EAB infestation include: Woodpecker Holes, Chipping or Cracking of Bark, Suckering Sprouts, Dieback of Tree, etc.
Residents who have Ash trees on their property, especially if the tree is showing symptoms of infestation, are encouraged to contact the Forestry Department at 716-3535.
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SWANCC Rolls out Educational Videos on Youtube
Visit the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) on Youtube to view informational videos about recycling, disposing of household chemical waste and programs for dealing with special materials. To see the videos, click here. To download informational flyers about these topics, click the links below:
Battery Recycling
CFL Recycling
Pharmaceutical/Sharp Disposal
Mercury Thermometer Recycling
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Village Hall Renovation
As you may have noticed, Winnetka’s Village Hall is being restored and rehabilitated. As a result, all Village meetings are relocated to the Public Safety Building classroom in the Police Department. Meeting notices will be posted at Village Hall and on the web as usual, and the public is invited to attend the meetings at the Police Department.
As a part of this project, the parking lot to the south of Village Hall has been closed to all but essential contractor parking. The Village apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause and thanks everyone in advance for their patience for the duration of the construction project.
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Review the 2011 NWMC Legislative Program
As a member of the Northwest Municipal Conference (NWMC), Winnetka partners with 42 other north and northwest suburban municipalities to ensure that our voices are heard by legislators in Springfield. To see the NWMC’s 2011 Legislative Program, click here.
The Village encourages residents to support these efforts by contacting their elected representatives in Springfield. To see the contact information for your State Senator and Representative, click here.
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VILLAGE SHARE OF PROPERTY TAX BILL
To see the 2011-12 Budget Overview Presentation,
click here.
To see the 2011-12 Budget Summary, click here.
To see the 2011-12 Budget, click here.
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Web Site HIGHLIGHTS
Foreclosure Notices
Foreclosure notices for the Village of Winnetka should be sent to: Ed McKee, Finance Director
510 Green Bay Road
Winnetka, IL 60093
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Council Meetings Rebroadcast on Cable TV
Winnetka viewers with Comcast service can watch Council Meetings weekdays on Channel 10 at 7:00PM. Meeting videos may also be viewed on demand on this website by clicking on the "Council" tab and selecting "Meetings Webcast."
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Explore the Willow Road Study Website
To see a copy of the final report from IDOT"s 2007-08 study of Context Sensitive Solutions for the Willow Road corridor (between Edens / Waukegan) click here. To see a report about the Community Advisory Group's (CAG) recommendations, click here.
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Crime Prevention Videos
Click here to view the videos.
Emergency Notification via Telephone
The Winnetka Police and Fire Departments have contracted with a rapid response phone network that allows the Village to quickly send messages to the phone numbers of any Winnetkan in case of emergency, such as the August 23, 2007, storm. To make register your landline and cell phone numbers for Village emergency calls, please click here. For more information please call the Police Department at 847-501-6034.
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Village Provides Interactive Mapping
The Village is proud to make an internet mapping service available on its website. The service allows users to search for information in Winnetka regarding school districts, recycling day pickup, voting locations, etc. Aerial photography is also available, plus links to Google Maps Street View and Microsoft Live mapping. The mapping service can be accessed in the Quick Links section under 'Interactive Village Map,' or by clicking here.
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Visit Websites of the Village's Other Taxing Agencies
Winnetka Park District
New Trier Township
Winnetka/Northfield Library District
New Trier High School
Winnetka School District 36
Avoca School District 37
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State Legislator Contact Info
With redistricting completed in Illinois, all of Winnetka is now in the 18th House district - the Village's place in the 9th Senate and 9th Congressional districts has not changed.
Senator Jeffrey Schoenberg – senator@jschoenberg.org
Rep. Robin Gabel – robyn@robyngabel.com
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PACE 2012 Budget Summaries
If you would be interested in viewing a a summary of the Pace Transit 2012 Budget, click here.
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Illinois State Police Sex Offender Information: http://www.isp.state.il.us/sor/
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Summary of Council Meetings Dealing with
Stormwater Mitigation Efforts
- January 17, 2012: Mr. Saunders reviewed timelines detailing progress made to-date and future planned actions, and he reported that representatives from CBBEL met with the Executive Director of the MWRD to discuss permit requirements. He said the Director has determined that once the Village received joint permit approval from the IEPA, IDNR and US Army Corps of Engineers, the MWRD permit would be approved by staff, rather than the Board.
- January 10, 2012: Mr. Saunders updated the Village Council about meetings with the MWRD and informed them that an RFP for a sanitary sewer study had been issued. He said the upcoming capital improvement plan will contain significant stormwater improvement elements.
- December 20, 2011: Mr. Saunders reported that a recent meeting with the Illinois EPA went well, and said the permit process for the proposed tunnel project is a lengthy one – an estimated 18 months is needed for approval.
- December 13, 2011: Mr. Saunders asked the Council to authorize staff to solicit proposals from qualified engineering firms for conducting a sanitary sewer evaluation survey for the Village.
- December 6, 2011: Public Works Director Steve Saunders reviewed progress made in preliminary meetings with the Army Corps of Engineers and revealed that the soil boring tests show only clay underneath the proposed tunnel’s path, not rock. The Council approved additional funding for the Sanitary Sewer Anti-Backup Program, due to increased interest in the program in the wake of the July flooding.
- November 15, 2011: Mr. Saunders distributed tunnel project summary and a timeline for the stormwater and sanitary sewer improvements; updated the Council on meetings with elected official, other government agencies and the Union Pacific Railroad about applying for the necessary permits to undertake the proposed tunnel project; and reported on preliminary meetings with public utilities along the route of the proposed project.
- November 8, 2011: The Council heard a presentation from the Village’s Finance Director and financial consultant Kevin McCanna of Speer Financial. Different scenarios for funding stormwater projects were discussed and staff was asked to further refine the project timeline and financing comparisons.
- November 1, 2011: Village Engineer Steve Saunders and Village Manager Rob Bahan reported on preliminary meetings with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, saying that no significant concerns were expressed. Other agencies that need to be brought on board include the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers.
- October 18, 2011: The Council reviewed the Preliminary Survey Results of the Village-wide survey of basement flooding during the July storm and discussed the Guide to Flood Protection in Northeastern Illinois prepared by The Illinois Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management.
- October 11, 2011: The Council considered the CBBEL Flood Risk Reduction Assessment, and there was a consensus to continue to explore the Lake Michigan Outlet tunnel option. CBBEL was asked to prepare a critical path schedule and Staff was asked to begin firming up the engineering for the smaller study areas and to continue studying financing options.
- October 4, 2011: The Council considered potential service enhancements, such as assisting with residential flood-proofing assessments to help evaluate drainage problems and potential solutions for property owners.
- September 20, 2011: Village Engineer Steve Saunders updated the Council on the status of conversations with the Park District and reported about the responses to the sanitary sewer survey. The Council adopted an ordinance increasing the amount of the assistance available to owners of homes built prior to 1970 who wish to install a backflow preventer or overhead sewer.
- September 13, 2011: Village Trustees reiterated their intent to keep stormwater and sanitary sewer flooding issues their first priority. President Tucker emphasized that as soon as items relating to these matters are ready for the Council's consideration, they will be placed on the agenda and noted that there are other items of business to be dealt with in the meantime. Manager Bahan referred Winnetkans to the aggressive timetable put forth at the August 16th meeting.
- September 6, 2011: President Tucker and Manager Bahan reported on conversations with the Winnetka Park District and New Trier Township regarding possible opportunities to pursue open space for future detention.
- Over the summer, the Council passed a Resolution waiving permit and inspection fees associated with storm related repairs, to assist residents in recovering from the extensive damage caused by the storm and flood of July 22-23.
To view the reports mentioned above, as well as a compilation of documents pertaining to stormwater mitigation efforts, including an extensive FAQ, please click here .
To download the sanitary sewer survey, click here.
Flood Protection Guide
The Guide to Flood Protection in Northeastern Illinois is published by the Illinois Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management, and contains information about what to do during a flood, and steps to take in the aftermath of a flood. To download the Guide, click here.
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Stormwater Input Welcomed !
The Village Council welcomes residents' input regarding stormwater mitigation efforts. Therefore, we have opened a new
e-mailbox to receive your comments directly:
Stormwatercomments@winnetka.org.
We encourage all residents to share their thoughts and suggestions. Although we will be unable to respond personally, your emails will be reviewed and forwarded in their entirety to the Village Council.
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Starting January 1, 2012, Electronics Will No Longer
Be Collected With Residential Waste
The State has enacted legislation that bans all televisions and computer monitors from being put in Illinois landfills. Recently, Governor Quinn signed additional legislation that expands the number of banned electronic products to include the following items:
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Computers – PCs, Laptops + Monitors
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DVD Players, DVR/Cable Boxes/Satellite Receivers
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Fax Machines
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Mobile Phones
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MP3 Players, PDAs
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Computer Peripherals (Mice, Keyboards, Drives)
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Printers, Scanners
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TVs, VHS Players
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Video Game Consoles
Under the new legislation, Winnetka refuse workers will no longer be able to collect these items for disposal through the backdoor residential waste program. To provide a convenient and environmentally-sound recycling alternative for all banned electronics, the Village, in partnership with Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) and Supply-Chain Services, Inc. (SSI), has established an electronics recycling drop off site at the Winnetka Public Works Yards - 1390 Willow road.
Items will be accepted Tuesdays between 10:00am – Noon and Thursdays between 1:00 – 3:00pm. Only residential items listed can be accepted. Do not bring household hazardous waste or home appliances such as microwaves, dehumidifiers, humidifiers, air conditioners or other unlisted items.
Electronics from businesses institutions or schools will not be accepted. Please do not drop-off electronics other than during the posted dates and times. Thank you for your cooperation!
For a list of additional recycling opportunities, visit SWANCC’s Green Pages directory at swancc.org.
For more information about the new legislation, click here.
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Recycle My Fridge Program
The Village’s wholesale electric supplier, Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA), has launched a refrigerator/freezer recycling program for residential customers in member communities.
The refrigerator or freezer must be in working condition, 10-30 cubic feet in size, owned by the resident, and picked up from the residential address listed on the billing account. Program participation is limited to residents served by the Village of Winnetka. As a thank-you, the resident will receive a $35 prepaid credit card within four to six weeks after the collection.
For more information on the program or to schedule a free pick-up time, call 877-341-2313 or visit RecycleMyFridge.org.
If you have a non-functioning appliance, please call the Public Works Department at 716-3568 to schedule a special refuse collection
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Help Physically and Developmentally
Disabled Individuals Earn Income by
Dropping Off Your Small Electronics at Village Hall
The Village of Winnetka is partnering with Recycling Avenue to collect small used electronic devices for recycling.
You can bring your used small electronics to Village Hall 510 Green Bay or thePublic Works Yards at 1390 WIllow during normal business hours; donations are tax-deductible. Large items such as printers, monitors, toner cartridges, desktop computers, TV's, VCR's or stereos will not be accepted. Recycling Avenue is run by and for persons who are physically and developmentally challenged. Learn more about Avenues to Independence recycling activities by clicking here.
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Winnetka Provides Electronic Recycling Program
The Winnetka Public Works Department is happy to partner with the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) to provide free electronic recycling to residents. The program will run until 500,000 lbs. of material has been collected.
Discarded electronics will be accepted at the Public Works Yards at 1390 Willow from 10:00 AM – Noon on Tuesdays, and from 1:00 – 3:00 PM on Thursdays.
Items that will be accepted include: computers and peripherals, DVD players, fax machines, mobile phones, MP3 players, game consoles, zip drives, printers, televisions and VHS players.
Further details are available by clicking here. For additional recycling and waste reduction programs or events, visit www.swancc.org or call 847.724.9205.
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Battery Recycling Program
The Public Works Department is partnering with the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) to offer a battery recycling program, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM at the Public Works Yards, 1390 Willow.
Rechargeable, NiCd, NiMh, lithium ion, lithium polymer or household alkaline batteries will be accepted. Residents please note: Each rechargeable battery (lithium,NiMh and NiCad) must have masking tape on contact points or be placed in an individual zip-lock plastic bag. If you have any questions, please call 716-3568.
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Support Metra's Public Safety Efforts
Metra is current looking for entries for its 2011-12 Safety Poster and Essay contests. The theme is “Lead the Way – Look, Listen, and Live.” The deadline for submitting an entry is March 15, 2012. For more information about the Safety Campaign and details about the contests, visit Metra on the web at: metracontest.com.
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Proposed Adjustments to UP North Line Schedule
The Village has been advised that Metra proposes to adjust the Union Pacific North Line schedule to better reflect the actual running times of trains, taking into account heavy loading at certain locations. These adjustments are expected to begin on January 29th and are available for review at metrarail.com. (Click on Recent News to see proposed timetable and how interested persons can submit their comments.)
Information about the Metra bridge reconstruction project on the UP North Line can also be found on the Metra website.
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Public Safety Pensions
In the fall of 2008, the Illinois legislature implemented public safety pension reforms. One of the law’s provisions requires that - prior to adopting the annual property tax levy - the Village Council receives a report from it Public Safety Pension Boards describing the health and performance of the pension plans. In compliance with this provision, the Village Police and Fire Pension Boards have submitted their 2011 reports to the Village Council. To see the reports, click here.
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Village Council Passes Pension Reform Resolution
Last fall, the Village Council approved Resolution No. R-31-2011: Urging the Illinois General Assembly and Governor to Adopt Public Employee Pension Reform to Mitigate the State-wide Pension Crisis. To read the staff report, resolution and letter to State elected officials that accompanied the resolution click here.
To see contact information for your State elected officials, click here.
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